New law enforcement task force launched
in northwest Missouri

Todd P. Graves, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, and Mark S. James, Special Agent in Charge of the Kansas City Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, announce the creation of a new law enforcement task force. At a joint news conference on October 17, 2002, representatives of law enforcement agencies in northwest Missouri unveiled NITRO – the Northwest Missouri Interagency Team Response Operation.

NITRO, which includes a 16-county area of northwest Missouri, will be staffed initially by full-time law enforcement officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Maryville Public Safety Department and the Cameron Police Department. Additional law enforcement agencies will participate on a case-by-case basis in their jurisdictions. NITRO will also work closely with existing law enforcement task forces in Buchanan County, northeast Missouri and elsewhere.

To read the news release issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of Missouri and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, select "News Releases" from the menu at left or click here.

To view a map of the 16-counties in Missouri that encompass NITRO, select "Map" from the menu at left or click here.

To read messages of support from various law enforcement agencies who will be participating in NITRO, select "Support" from the menu at left or click here.

To read biographical sketches of the three participants in the press conference announcing the launch of NITRO — U.S. Attorney Todd Graves, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Paul Vido of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and Col. Roger D. Stottlemyre of the Missouri State Highway Patrol — select "Bios" from the menu at left or click here.

To view photos from the October 17, 2002 press conference, select "Photo" from the menu at left or click here.